[Wen/Observer Net Shanzhuang]

According to a report by Japan's Kyodo News on June 24, several government sources said that the Ministry of Defense is considering halting the naval review scheduled for this autumn in Sagami Bay. The report stated that this is mainly due to the increased activities of the military of China and Russia near Japan, which has placed excessive pressure on the Self-Defense Forces' vessels and aircraft responsible for tracking and surveillance tasks.

(Photo) On November 6, 2022, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force held a naval review in Sagami Bay

Last August, the Japanese Ministry of Defense listed "naval review funds" in the preliminary budget request for the fiscal year 2025, and in March this year, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force issued a bidding notice for the "media distribution and publicity services during the Reiwa 7th year naval review period," indicating that the naval review activity was planned for this year.

Under the original plan, the naval review this year would follow the previous pattern, with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force vessels gathering in Sagami Bay, Kanagawa Prefecture, and aircraft from the Japan Air Self-Defense Force, Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force flying over the site. The Prime Minister, as the highest commander of the Self-Defense Forces, would also attend. According to sources, the consideration of suspending the traditional naval review format aims to prioritize retaining ship and aircraft forces for tracking and surveillance missions, while also discussing a small-scale event involving a few ships moored at the dock as an alternative plan.

The report stated that the burden on the Self-Defense Forces' vessels and aircraft in tracking foreign ships is increasing, and at the same time, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force has long been suffering from a shortage of ships and personnel. The report also cited recent examples such as the simultaneous deployment of the Chinese Navy's Liaoning and Shandong aircraft carriers beyond the island chain for distant sea training, and the close interception of a P-3C aircraft by a J-15 when approaching the formation.

In October 1957, during the Kishi Cabinet, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, which had been established five years ago, held its first naval review on October 2. Subsequent naval reviews were mostly held in October or November, and later they were alternately held annually with the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force's "Central Inspection" and the Japan Air Self-Defense Force's "Aerial Inspection." As of 2022, a total of 30 naval reviews have been held. The 29th one on October 14, 2019, saw the first participation of the Chinese Navy's 052D type missile destroyer 131 Taiyuan, which attracted many local enthusiasts to visit and take photos.

On October 10, 2019, the 131 Taiyuan frigate of the East China Sea Fleet, which was invited to participate in the naval review, arrived at the Yokosuka base in Japan, becoming the first Chinese Navy vessel to visit Japan in many years (the photo shows the Taiyuan arriving at Tokyo Nishiazabu Wharf on October 14).

However, after most of the Self-Defense Forces and foreign ships arrived, Typhoon Hagibis, the 19th super typhoon of 2019, made landfall in Japan (at around 6 p.m. on the 12th in the Izu Peninsula area of Shizuoka Prefecture, with maximum wind speed of 14 levels), and the naval review was forced to be canceled to ensure disaster prevention measures.

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Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7519841597123478052/

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